Foreign Media: Renowned mRNA vaccine and immunology expert Hu Haitao has given up his tenure-track position at a U.S. research institution, returned to China, and joined the Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, as a researcher.
Hu Haitao once studied under Drew Weissman, a pioneer in the field of mRNA and a Nobel laureate, and has been working in the U.S. for nearly 20 years. He said that if he had made this decision a year ago, people around him might have found it hard to believe, but in 2025, this choice "almost doesn't need an explanation" and is generally seen as a reasonable move.
Hu Haitao said that in the past year, the academic environment in the U.S. has become more uncertain and unpredictable, while China is rapidly catching up in basic research and technological development in mRNA. He emphasized that the main reason for returning was personal and family factors, and his research funding and work itself were not directly affected. However, he also noticed that the support and funding for the biopharmaceutical industry, especially in mRNA-related research, in the U.S. are tightening.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1852176534942720/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author himself.